It is the proverbial six pointer at Champion Hill this afternoon as Dulwich welcome back Wealdstone for a electric top five clash.

Though the clubs clashed in last season’s League Cup, Hamlet triumphing then thanks to Ryan James’ goal, the Stones had fielded a makeshift XI including a number of key players out of position and a smattering of youngsters with a number of empty berths on the bench. Indeed mention of the League Cup in advance of today’s encounter must probably be anathema to both sides as a Dulwich side shorn of many of those that will grace the field this afternoon was humbled by struggling Cray Wanderers, beaten 5-1 at Hayes Lane with only Kristian Campbell’s later consolation throwing any light on a dark evening. Meanwhile the Stones were going through their own cup pain dismissed from the competition home to deadly rivals Harrow Borough after a penalty shoot-out. A late, late penalty conversion from Sean Cronin’s had enabled the Stones to level the tie at the death but the roulette of penalties saw Borough through 4-3.

Mention of penalties must bring back painful memories for many of a Pink and Blue persuasion for when our two teams met prior to last season that was how things panned out after 120 minutes of pulsating football in front of a throbbing Champion Hill ended 2 apiece. At stake then was a place in the newly reshaped Premier Division the Stones sealing their spot as Richard Jolly’s decisive penalty kick in the shootout denied Dulwich a return to the upper echelons of the Isthmian league.

What should have been a triumphant return to the Isthmian League for the Stones was hampered by a lack of funds and a lack of a ground to call their own, having lost their Lower Mead home in controversial circumstances at the end of the 90s. A financially ludicrous ground share at Watford’s Vicarage Road nearly sounded the death knell for the club but for the fundraising wizardry of the club before moves to Yeading, Edgware, and Northwood helped keep the club’s head above water as the search for a new ground continued unabated. A fine new development in Canons Park was mooted. Planning permission was granted, funding raised, groundworks begun but then work halted abruptly as the contractors building the ground went into liquidation.

Back on the field with very little money to spend on wages to attract players, the club found itself relying on a large number of inexperienced youngsters, but narrowly avoided relegation in both 2005 and 2006. In the summer of 2006, following non-league re-organization, the club was very reluctantly reassigned back to Southern League for the 2006/07 season, before re-joining The Isthmian League again the following season, retaining the Premier level status by the skin of their teeth both times.

With the ground share agreement at Northwood coming to an end and completion of the Prince Edward Playing Field project still a pipedream, Wealdstone instead decided to invest in Ruislip Manor’s Grosvenor Vale stadium to upgrade the playing facilities as a priority, in order to meet the necessary ground grading requirements to play Isthmian League Premier Division football in the 2008/09 season.

In the 2011/12 season, The Stones qualified for the play-offs position after finishing 4th but lost out in the semi-final to Lowestoft Town 2-1 by dint of a 97th minute penalty winner for the Trawlerboys. However, that failed to take the gloss of what, after so many years of struggle had been a fantastic season as Gordon Bartlett’s men reached the FA Trophy semi-final losing 3-1 on aggregate to Newport County. The progress continued apace and last season the Stones improved to finish third just a point behind Lowestoft Town. However once more the playoffs proved their nemesis as they were beaten 2-1 after extra time in front of a four-figure crowd at Grosvenor Vale.

Wealdstone are in fine fettle of late, unbeaten in the league since the 5th October when Charles Ademeno’s 2nd minute goal and a backs-to-the-wall performance from the visiting defence allowed Margate to escape the Vale with all three points. Since then the only disappointments have been in the cups, trounced 6-1 away to AFC Hornchurch in the FA Cup, beaten in a replay by Maidstone United in the Trophy and dumped out of the Robert Dyas by Harrow in midweek.

Though rumours abounded that Scott McGleish might in line to take over the manager’s hot seat at Enfield Town it seems as if the ageless centre forward will be in the line-up to face the Hamlet this afternoon. Despite his 39 years, the much travelled hitman remains as deadly threat in front of goal as his eight goals in the last eight games for the Stones will attest to.

This afternoon’s game kicks off at 3.00 pm at Champion Hill Stadium, Edgar Kail Way, East Dulwich, London SE22 8BD. As a large crowd is expected today, please allow plenty of time to avoid a delay at the turnstiles.

Before the game why not enjoy a drink or snack in our cosy clubhouse with live sport on the big screens, conveniently situated just a short walk from the turnstiles?

ADMISSION PRICES

• £10 for Adults
• £4 for Concessions (Seniors - 60+, Under 18s, Unemployed (UB40, Full Time Students and Members of the Armed Forces and Blue Light Services. PLEASE present valid ID)
• Under 12s FREE accompanied by a paying adult.

Correct change would be appreciated in order to speed admission. Many thanks!

Programmes: £1.50